The Modules, Philadelphia

Multifamily / Merit

In designing Temple University student housing for a private developer, Interface Studio found the sweet spot between one-off design and the strengths of modular protocol. “We saw modular construction as a way of navigating the cost structure and making the building greener,” says Brian Phillips, AIA, LEED AP. Stacking the boxes in back-to-back “E” shapes yielded the most square footage and natural light on the perimeter. The building—which achieved LEED for Homes Midrise Gold certification—incorporates ground-floor parking for 38 cars and 100 bicycles and a green roof terrace, part of a stormwater system that reduces runoff by 50 percent. The factory-built model was speedy, too: Construction began in January and students were in by August. “It’s sustainable, and it’s where construction is heading,” one judge said.